Ford Aspire problems
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Ford Aspire model years
Common Ford Aspire problems
The Ford Aspire, a compact sedan popular in India, has received some complaints from owners regarding its performance and build quality. One of the most common issues is fit and finish issues, with some owners reporting uneven panel gaps and finishing issues both inside and outside the cabin. The interior plastics are hard to touch, but the quality remains high. However, the rear seat bench could benefit from better under-thigh support and headroom.
Another issue reported by owners is the suspension setup, which tends to be on the stiffer side, leading to a less than ideal ride quality. The 1.5-L TDCi engine, which produces 100 Ps and 215 Nm of peak torque output, has been praised for its strong low-end and great city driving experience. However, the engine becomes vocal when pushed above 2500 RPM, and the 5-speed gearbox could be better in terms of overall shift quality.
The Ford Aspire's fuel economy has been a positive aspect, with the tall gears making it an excellent car for highway riding and helping to extract maximum fuel economy. The car's performance, driving dynamics, comfort, and build quality have been appreciated by owners, making it a highly satisfying product for many.
However, some owners have reported issues with the engine, specifically lower engine bearing failure. This problem may be more prevalent in certain model years or conditions, and it is essential to address it promptly to avoid further damage.
In conclusion, while the Ford Aspire has many positive aspects, such as its strong low-end performance, fuel economy, and overall build quality, there are some common issues that owners have reported, including fit and finish issues, suspension setup, and engine problems. Addressing these issues promptly and ensuring regular maintenance can help ensure a positive ownership experience.
What are the disadvantages of the Ford Aspire?
Cons- noisy engine outside like that of diesel, pick up not peppy as Dzire and amaze; gradual pick up. Side mirrors are small with limited view of the rear traffic. Break is hard. You have to put a lot of pressure to apply breaks.
What is the safety rating of the Ford Aspire?
3-star
3-star. Ford Aspire has been awarded 3-star safety rating.
Who built the Ford Aspire?
Kia Motors
The Festiva and Aspire were designed by Ford ally Mazda and built in South Korea by Kia Motors (which got its start in the car business by assembling vehicles for other companies). The Aspire was sold here for just the 1994 through 1997 model years.
Is Ford Aspire Titanium discontinued?
Ford Aspire Titanium is Discontinued and no longer Produced.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Ford Aspire years
We have researched Ford problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Ford Aspire cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Ford Aspire model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Ford Aspire model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Ford Aspire years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Ford Aspire car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Ford Aspire , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Electrical system problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Power train problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Ford Aspire vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Aspire model years
A total of 53 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Aspire model years
There were a total of 10 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Aspire model years
There were a total of 52 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Aspire model years
There were a total of 3 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 298 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Ford Aspire . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Ford Aspire vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Ford Aspire 1995
- Date Of Incident: 2011-03-18
- Date Complaint: 2011-03-28
- VIN: 1FAFP33P03W
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ASPIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND SHE WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE FAILURE DUE TO AGE. THE DEALER DID NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE NOR WAS A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,485 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,850. UPDATED 1/17/2012 *LN *TR
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2008-10-10
- Date Complaint: 2008-10-10
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: FIRST MY ENGINE SEEMED TO OVERHEAT A BIT THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GRINDING ON SOMETHING AND WOULDN'T STOP.. SOUNDED LIKE A BUNCH OF CHAINS IN MY HOOD. BUT THEN ON OCCASIONS THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS MAKING THE CHAIN SOUND, EVEN WITH MY KEY OUT. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW THE THING SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I HAVE NO POWER WHAT SO EVER IN MY VEHICLE. BEFORE WHEN IT FINALLY SHUT OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO SPARK. THEN IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THAT WASN'T COOL. *TR
Ford Aspire 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2008-09-07
- Date Complaint: 2008-09-15
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: CAR SUDDENLY STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. CAUSE WAS A SIX INCH SECTION OF TREAD APPEARED TO HAVE SEPARATED INTERNALLY. STOPPED BEFORE TIRE FAILED COMPLETELY. 30,000 MILES ON A TIRE GUARANTEED FOR 75,000 MILES. DEALER SAID 62% OF WEAR HAD OCCURRED. *TR
Ford Aspire 1995
- Date Of Incident: 2008-01-15
- Date Complaint: 2008-06-02
- VIN: KNJLT06H3S6
- Components: POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE
- Summary: ON A 1995 FORD ASPIRE WITH 101,847 MILES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS GETTING HARDER TO PUSH DOWN AND GETTING CLOSER TO THE FLOOR UPON RELEASE EVEN THOUGH A NEW CLUTCH WAS PUT IN A YEAR EARLIER. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO MOVE AROUND SLIGHTLY. BOTH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ON THE SAME BRACKET. I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THOUGHT THE CABLE HAD BROKEN BUT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE BRACKET HAD COME THROUGH THE FIREWALL. A NEW BRACKET HAD TO BE FABRICATED AND THE FIREWALL STRENGTHENED. *TR
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2008-01-11
- Date Complaint: 2008-01-18
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1FMDU34X7TU
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 1996 FORD EXPLORER, 4X4. DRIVING IN DESERT WENT OVER A BUMP A LITTLE FAST, WHICH SET OFF MY AIRBAGS. MY RIDER IS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR BROKEN NOSE, CHEEK AND SOME KIND OF SMOKE INHALATION. MY WINDSHIELD IS BROKEN BECAUSE THE BAG HIT THE MIRROR WHICH THEN HIT THE WINDSHIELD. MY STEERING WHEEL IS DESTROYED, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORNS ARE OUT OF SERVICE. BEFORE I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN I HAD TO CUT THE AIRBAGS OUT. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS! NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR EXCEPT WHAT THE AIRBAGS DID. I WANT THIS ALL FIXED AT FORD'S EXPENSE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 10 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT; RECALLED TIRES, STEERING BARS AND BRAKES (ALL RECALL). *TR
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2007-11-10
- Date Complaint: 2007-12-07
- VIN: 4M2DV11W2TD
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR
Ford Aspire 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2001-03-01
- Date Complaint: 2007-08-16
- VIN: KNJLT05H8V6
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND FLASHES FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. DOES IT MEAN AIR BAGS ARE OUT OF SERVICE, MALFUNCTIONING? THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, AND IN GOOD MAINTAINED CONDITION. *JB
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2007-06-29
- Date Complaint: 2007-07-03
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1FMDU34X0TZ
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TIRE ON 2 CASES BLEW THE TREAD AND BELT, THE LATER OF THE TWO INCIDENCES WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH THAT TOTALED THE VEHICLE, AND RESULTED IN TWO INJURIES TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. BOTH NEEDED TO BE HOSPITALIZED.*AK
Ford Aspire 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2007-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2007-06-05
- VIN: 1FMEU17L5VL
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: INCIDENT LIKE MANY OTHERS I HAVE HAD MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT BLOW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE AND TROUBLE FREE WHEN A POP FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A LOUD BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP ; WHO IN TURN CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE REPLY WAS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. MY LOCAL SERVICE TECH SAID THE REPAIR KIT ALONE WOULD COST $1,000,00. TO REPAIR IT HE SAID THAT FORD HAD ONLY USED 3 THREADS IN THE HEAD THAT FAILED, BUT ARE NOW REPLACING THEM WITH A 7 THREAD HEAD., THIS TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ARE WILLING TO LEAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT TO DRY.. I GUESS THE SCARY PART ABOUT THAT IS I STILL HAVE 4 MORE 3 THREAD SPARK PLUG HOLES TO WORRY ABOUT BLOWING OUT,.I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO IS LOOKING FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO BUY IT'S TRUCKS. DAMAGE RESULTING IT WILL COST ME AS LITTLE AS $2,500.00 TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM ( AND NO GUARANTY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN). OR UP TO $5,500.00 TO REPLACE THE BUILT TOUGH 5.4 TRITON ENGINE. *TR
Ford Aspire 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2007-03-31
- Date Complaint: 2007-04-02
- VIN: KNJLT05H4V6
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: I OWN A 1997 FORD ASPIRE AND I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AND I STOPPED AT THE STORE. WHEN I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT IN MY CAR TO CRANK IT UP THE CAR SPUTTERED AND SHOOK THEN STOPPED RUNNING. I LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS POURING OUT GAS. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO COME AND FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH COST ME 300 DOLLARS. WHEN I TOLD THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT THIS WAS RECALLED ON THE 1994 MODEL YEAR OF THIS CAR, BUT MY CAR IS A 1997, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED ON FUTURE CARS. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SINCE IT WAS RECALLED ON A EARLIER MODEL, BUT I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN A LATER MODEL CAR. *JB
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2005-12-20
- Date Complaint: 2006-06-22
- VIN: 2FMDA5148TB
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING FLUID. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, THE REPAIR WERE MADE FOR A FEE. ALSO EVERY 25000 MILES, THE OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED TO BE CHANGED DUE A SMALL LEAK. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIRD, THE EXHAUST AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS WERE LEAKING CAUSING A NOXIOUS SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH MANIFOLDS, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2006-01-11
- Date Complaint: 2006-02-14
- Crash: 1
- VIN: KNJLT05H8T6
- Components: STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
- Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A BRICK WALL AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. ALSO, AT 14,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AT 55,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A FINAL TIME AT 65,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2005-12-11
- Date Complaint: 2005-12-14
- VIN: 2FALP74W1TX
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB
Ford Aspire 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-27
- Date Complaint: 2005-07-27
- VIN: 1FMFU18L5VL
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: DRIVER SIDE TIE-ROD SEPERATION '97 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY BECAUSE OF EMERGENCY BRAKING.
Ford Aspire 1996
- Date Of Incident: 2005-06-03
- Date Complaint: 2005-06-27
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1FMEU15N8TL
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: ON 06/03/2005, A GOVERNMENT OWNED, 1996 FORD BRONCO, WAS OBSERVED ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE WAS OBSERVED AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT COULD BE EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.
Recalls Ford Aspire
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the Ford Aspire.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Ford Aspire 1994
- Report Received Date: 1994-10-04
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
- Summary: THE FUEL SUPPLY, RETURN AND VAPOR HOSES OR LINES CAN CONTACT OR HAVE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE SURROUNDING COMPONENTS DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING DURING ASSEMBLY.
- Consequence: WEAR OF THE HOSE OR LINE CAN OCCUR, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
- Remedy: THE FUEL LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED. ANY DAMAGED RUBBER HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. STEEL FUEL LINES WILL HAVE THE CORROSION PROTECTION REPAIRED IF NEEDED.
- Model: Ford Aspire 1994
- Report Received Date: 1994-08-01
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: THE DATES OF MANUFACTURE WERE OMITTED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567, "CERTIFICATION."
- Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: INCOMPLETE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy: A COMPLETE CERTIFICATION LABEL WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE OWNER OR WILL BE INSTALLED FOR THE OWNER BY THE DEALER, IF NECESSARY.
Latest negative Ford Aspire car reviews
Latest positive Ford Aspire car reviews
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Vehicle year: 1996
I'm so glad to hear that you've had your car for almost 25 years and that it has provided you with great mileage and performance despite its small size. It sounds like you really got your money's worth and are very happy with it!
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Vehicle year: 1997
So far, I'm loving this little car! It has great gas mileage.
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Vehicle year: 1996
I've had this car for 4 years now, bought it used, and I absolutely love it! It's cheap on gas, oil, tires, brakes, and other maintenance.
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Vehicle year: 1997
I really like my car! It's a great little sedan that has never given me any trouble. As a delivery driver, I appreciate having a smaller car.
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Vehicle year: 1997
This car has been extremely reliable for my 250 mile weekly commute. Yes, it's the most gutless car I've ever owned but having the manual transmission helps. It's fun to drive (for its class) and holds the road surprisingly well, even when driving through water on the highway. I've been rear-ended twice with only marginal damage. I get 31-38 mpg. I do wish there were more comparable models available as I'm getting up in mileage.
Are you having problems with your Ford Aspire?
Flavio White 2024-11-28
Vehicle year: 1996
I have owned this car for 5 years and have had to replace the exhaust, fuel pump, ignition, and speedometer before reaching 90k miles. Unfortunately, the AC stopped working at 32k miles and the speedometer broke shortly after. Despite my disappointment, I have continued to drive the car without AC for the past 5 years. The MPG is 35 in the city and 40 on the highway, which is much lower than expected. However, I still believe that this car is a good choice, although I have found the Metro to be a much better option.
Caleb Gorczany 2024-11-20
Vehicle year: 1995
In my experience, the Ford Aspire did not meet my expectations. The engine and trans casing were the same as the '88-'89 Mercury Tracer, but with less displacement. Unfortunately, the under-engineering made it perform poorly. The transmission shifted poorly and the engine required a lot of acceleration just to move. Additionally, the lack of sound insulation and cheap exhaust heat shields made it difficult to enjoy music while driving over 35mph. Despite being lighter and less well-equipped than my '88 Tracer, it also got worse gas mileage and had stability issues in the snow. I had some scary moments when the car suddenly spun out while driving straight ahead at 30mph. Overall, in my opinion, the Ford Aspire did not live up to its name and failed to be a reliable car.
Keon Gutmann 2024-11-16
Vehicle year: 1995
This is a friendly little car. It has great gas mileage (40mpg) and has been super reliable since I bought it used. I haven't had any problems with it and haven't had to replace anything except for the tires and wipers. It handles well and has good power and brakes. It may look a bit funny from the outside (my wife calls it an egg with wheels), but it's surprisingly roomy and comfortable on the inside.
Marques Rippin 2024-10-29
Vehicle year: 1996
This is a friendly little car. It has great gas mileage (40mpg) and has been super reliable since I bought it used. I haven't had any problems with it and haven't had to replace anything except for the tires and wipers. It handles well and has good power and brakes. It may look a bit funny from the outside (my wife calls it an egg with wheels), but it's surprisingly roomy and comfortable on the inside.
Cody Haley 2024-10-13
Vehicle year: 1997
My car has had a few issues, such as the transmission going at 50,000 miles and the air conditioning failing at 75,000 miles. Additionally, the salt on the roads has caused some damage to the muffler and catalytic converter cap, despite regular replacements. However, it does have some positive aspects, including great gas mileage and the ability to fit a surprising amount of items. It is also easy to park in tight spots.